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The Virgin and Child with an Angel

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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In this painting Perugino has stressed the humility of the Virgin Mary, positioning her directly in a grassy meadow as she kneels before the infant Christ, a chubby baby. He is supported by an angel who looks towards Mary, sharing in her knowledge of his divinity.

This was the central panel of the lower tier of an altarpiece made for the Duke of Milan (the two flanking panels are also in the National Gallery’s collection). It shows off the artist’s skill at painting in oil, blending colours to create subtle transitions between tones – particularly effective for painting the Virgin’s complexion, which is made up of many different shades of peach, cream and pink.

The hovering winged angels at the top of the image were not part of the original design, and it’s possible that they were added at the request of the patron.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

The Virgin and Child with an Angel

Date

about 1496-1500

Medium

Oil with some egg tempera on poplar

Measurements

H 114 x W 63.5 cm

Accession number

NG288.1

Acquisition method

Bought, 1856

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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